Thankful Thursday - 113 (LATELY)

Again, in lieu of the usual Thankful Thursday, I'm posting about what we've been up to lately. I've done a ton of posts this week, but I have done so much more than just those things!

I am grateful for having the opportunity to...

1. Attend an intimate birthday dinner for Janine. 

The little party-animal and her beautiful mother in the background!

2. Celebrate our first Christmas and spend time together as a family of 3 (soon to be 4!)

BOO!

Dom's first Canucks jersey from Uncle Jeff & Aunty Marta! 

After the Christmas Eve service we realized we had no food at home, so we picked up some Tim Horton's sandwiches... maybe this can NOT become our Christmas Eve tradition?!

3. Have slow December mornings. 

Who has this many chins when looking up?! I love this chubby, round, perfect face <3

Christmas morning was cinnamon buns and the Grinch!

Lounging while reading some new books with Dad.

Okay, slow evenings as well. Walking through the neighborhood to see all the lights!

4. Find out the gender of our baby, and it's a GIRL!!

5. Spend Christmas Day at Gramma & Grandpas for brunch, games, gifts and dinner!

Dominic opening gifts with Gramma

My family was strewn all about, so we connected for a quick Christmas video chat partway through the day!

6. Celebrate Jaia's first birthday. 

All of our birthdays are within 16 days of each other. (Me: December 11; Janine: December 18; Jaia: December 25; Dom: December 27)

Dom spent his time chasing Diezel around and eating all of the cheerios put out for the little kids.

Literally fistfuls upon fistfuls of cheerios...

His shirt says, "Mommy's Little Man"... his beer gut says otherwise...

7. Celebrate Dominic's first birthday. 

I am learning how to use photoshop a little bit, and I spent way too long getting these photos put together and arranged like this.

This may be my favorite photo of these two.

8. De-Christmatize! 

David says his favorite part of having a Christmas tree is chucking it off the balcony when we're done with it...

We have had an absolutely blessed Christmas season, and the parties are not even over yet! We are incredibly lucky to have close family and friends to celebrate this time with us. This has been one of the best weeks of our year! 

I was saying to David the other day that 2017 has 100% been the best, hardest and most fulfilling year of my life. 

Dominic First Birthday Party

Dom was just in his own little happy world by this point. I feel like it looks like he's at a concert rocking out all by himself.

We celebrated Dominic's birthday with a little party at our house for some family and friends today. It started at 4pm, so I decided to feed everyone dinner. This morning I got the crock pots out and made a double-batch of chili, as well as some pulled pork! We had leftovers (yay!) and everybody raved about the food! The best part was that by 9am all my cooking was done!

The pulled pork was a real hit. Such an easy recipe. I didn't know what to expect! Pour rootbeer over the pork shoulder and cook on low for 6 hours. Dump the rootbeer, pull the pork, and top with BBQ sauce! Doesn't get much simpler!

With the crazy week we had, and the stores being closed over the holidays and all, I completely blanked on decorations for the party. I wasn't going to do any, but then my parents came over before the party and offered to go pick up some stuff. So nice of them! They helped set up, and I'm so glad they did. Made it much more festive and party-ish (and less Christmas-ey).

We moved our Christmas tree out of the living room to make more space and I'm glad we did. It works here for now. 

Dominic was a bit of a disaster-case (fussy and grumpy) today, so we weren't sure how the party would go. He woke up from his second nap quite late and cried for a while so I was a little nervous. He was a little off at first, but as soon as we got him in his high chair for dinner and cupcakes he was in his element! He started pointing and smiling and chatting with people while he ate his dinner. And then the cupcake... Oh boy was it ever epic! I wish I had done chocolate icing, but I decided last minute to make buttercream frosting, and didn't think to make it chocolatey. It was a beautiful thing. He made GREAT work of the cupcake... In ohhh about 4 bites?! Proud moment!

Om Nom Nom!

This photo is definitely coming out at Dom & Jaia's wedding ;)

Sharing his first cupcake with her <3

After he got some food and sugar in his belly he was a changed boy! Happy happy happy! Chatting with everyone and playing with his friends. We opened presents (so much for "presents not necessary!") and he was so spoiled! Lots of toys, books, clothes, shoes, etc. 

After dinner and the cupcake smash, we took off Dom's sweater and pants to reveal his awesome foodie onesie! Very suitable for the moment!

I'm ONE now! 

Opening presents with Mom & Dad!

Lots of help from Henry. I was glad to have him help as Dom didn't have much interest in the unwrapping, and Henry was more than happy to show him his gifts! Here Henry is about to read Dom one of his favorite books he and Sam (Katrina & Brayden) got for him!

Tickle Me Elmo from Great Oma & Opa! I remember having Tickle me Elmo slippers when I was little, which was awesome until the batteries started dying and it sounded like a creepy 45 year old man saying, "He...he...he... THAT tiiickles!"

I foresee many hours going through this I Spy book!

David is definitely the most excited about the Air Jordan sneakers from Janine, Neil & Jaia!

Little blondies!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out today to celebrate our day! I had a good cry last night and a few times today, but held it together for the party. We love Dominic more than he will ever know. 

We didn't get many "real camera" pictures from the day, or pictures of the guests, but we were too busy enjoying ourselves, and I think sometimes that's allowed to take precedent over the blog ;)